Structural mechanisms of QacR induction and multidrug recognition

Science. 2001 Dec 7;294(5549):2158-63. doi: 10.1126/science.1066020.

Abstract

The Staphylococcus aureus multidrug binding protein QacR represses transcription of the qacA multidrug transporter gene and is induced by structurally diverse cationic lipophilic drugs. Here, we report the crystal structures of six QacR-drug complexes. Compared to the DNA bound structure, drug binding elicits a coil-to-helix transition that causes induction and creates an expansive multidrug-binding pocket, containing four glutamates and multiple aromatic and polar residues. These structures indicate the presence of separate but linked drug-binding sites within a single protein. This multisite drug-binding mechanism is consonant with studies on multidrug resistance transporters.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Berberine / chemistry
  • Berberine / metabolism
  • Binding Sites
  • Crystallization
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • DNA / metabolism
  • Dequalinium / chemistry
  • Dequalinium / metabolism
  • Dimerization
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial
  • Ethidium / chemistry
  • Ethidium / metabolism
  • Gentian Violet / chemistry
  • Gentian Violet / metabolism*
  • Glutamates / chemistry
  • Heterocyclic Compounds / chemistry
  • Heterocyclic Compounds / metabolism*
  • Hydrogen Bonding
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Repressor Proteins / chemistry*
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism
  • Rhodamines / chemistry
  • Rhodamines / metabolism
  • Rosaniline Dyes / chemistry
  • Rosaniline Dyes / metabolism*
  • Staphylococcus aureus

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Glutamates
  • Heterocyclic Compounds
  • QacR protein, Staphylococcus aureus
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Rhodamines
  • Rosaniline Dyes
  • Berberine
  • malachite green
  • DNA
  • Dequalinium
  • Ethidium
  • Gentian Violet

Associated data

  • PDB/1JT6
  • PDB/1JTX
  • PDB/1JTY
  • PDB/1JUM
  • PDB/1JUP
  • PDB/1JUS